Damien Cross treats New York City as if it’s his personal playground. He sees. He touches. He conquers. He holds the fate of my family in his hands. And makes a deal with me I can’t refuse. He’ll forgive my father’s debt if he can have something in exchange: me. I promised myself I wouldn’t get addicted, but nothing is guaranteed when you make a deal with a savage. Now this debt is my cross to bear.

They say Cyrus Reed is ruthless. That he rules the underworld with an iron fist. A criminal. A murderer. A monster. He controlled fortunes and amassed empires. Our paths should never have crossed, but one poker game intertwined our fate. I woke up stranded on his island. Trapped. Forced to play a dangerous game of hate and lust. He said he took me to protect me. That he was saving me. But who will save me from him?

I ran from home to escape heartbreak, only to deliver myself into the hands of a wolf. Henry Wolf, that is. Heir to a luxury hotel chain, infamous playboy, arrogant bastard...and my new boss. Why he wants me, Abbi Mitchell - a girl who lacks experience on every front that would matter to him - as his personal assistant, I cannot fathom, especially when I keep messing up in the most spectacular way. Did I already mention he's a bastard? A beautiful, moody one, who's quick to demand, slow to apologize. And toying with me every chance he gets.

I've been to a million parties with my crush, but he's never acted on it til now. Ford Malone could have any woman in Chicago, so why fake a relationship with me? The world knows him as the heir to a real estate fortune, but to me he'll always be my best friend, the man who saved me from my bullies as a boy. I'm as surprised as anyone when he announces our engagement, but I'll play along. Nothing has to change except the way we behave—the way we touch—in public. But his private touches change everything. Soon the crush I've hidden for so long is threatening to swallow me whole.

We were supposed to run away after high school. When she didn’t show up at our meeting place, I gathered my courage and went after her. It was a mistake. I left bloodied and bruised. My heart didn’t fare half as well. I had no choice but to walk away. Years passed. A decade. More. I traveled, settled halfway around the world, and made myself a name and enough money that I didn’t have to look back. But I never got over her.